French firm Solar Euromed is to build a pilot solar energy station and laboratory in southern Jordan.

Jordan's Higher Council for Science and Technology's National Center for Research and Development signed an agreement Sunday with Euromed to construct the facility in the Shoubak district.

The European Union, through its European Renewable Energy Aid Program for Jordan, is providing $5.8 million funding for the 510-kilowatt project.

NCRD president Khaled Shraideh, who signed the agreement with Solar Euromed Board Chairman Mark Bin Jamil, said NCRD is a research facility working on renewable energy technology and provides the Jordanian government with feasibility studies on renewable energy systems, ammonnews.net reported.

Shraideh added that the Shoubak solar research and development center will provide training for local and regional personnel on solar energy operations to boost production of generated electricity.

The Jordanian Royal Scientific Society is collaborating in the project and will administer the station after its construction and offer specialized courses for local and regional staff members.